Real Estate Fraud
Real Property Crimes
Real property crime can take many forms, but most often involves grand theft, forgery, and
a relatively recent scheme, identity theft.
Below are samples of the types of cases we investigate and prosecute:
- Fraudulent real estate investment schemes, typically involving the sale of trust deeds.
- Use of forged escrow instructions to steal escrow deposits.
- Purchasing homes with straw buyers.
- Forgery of grant deeds or other recorded documents.
- Real Estate Identity Theft. By assuming the identity of the true owner, or claiming to represent the true owner, the thief fraudulently obtains title to a property. He then borrows against the property, or sells the property, stealing the equity. The typical target of such a scheme is a property with a large amount of equity, most likely an elderly owner.
- Fraudulent schemes involving trusts where owners are told to deed their property to a trust which will make the mortgage payments until the owner recovers financially. However the reality is that the scammers steal the equity and get loans with even larger payments so the original homeowner never stands a chance to get his or her property back.